New Delhi, Aug 12: As many as 46,491 people were treated for drug addiction in Jammu and Kashmir during 2025-26, the highest annual figure recorded in the past five years, according to data tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The figure represents a sharp rise from 36,588 people treated in 2024-25 and is nearly nine times the 5,382 recorded in 2021-22. The number stood at 27,843 in 2022-23 and 40,546 in 2023-24, according to the data.
The figures were provided by the Union Government in response to questions concerning substance abuse, treatment facilities and measures being taken to strengthen prevention and rehabilitation services in Jammu and Kashmir.
Among districts, Jammu recorded the highest number of people treated in 2025-26 at 9,960, followed by Srinagar with 6,204, Bandipore with 5,769, Kulgam with 5,765 and Rajouri with 5,561.
Kupwara recorded 4,530 treatments, while Pulwama accounted for 3,433 and Budgam 2,693.
The government also cited findings of the 2018 National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use, conducted through the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre at AIIMS. The survey estimated that around 5.4 lakh people in J&K were opioid users, corresponding to a prevalence of 4.91 per cent among those aged 10-75 years.
It estimated the number of alcohol users at 3.9 lakh, cannabis users at 1.4 lakh, sedative users at 1.7 lakh and inhalant users at 1.35 lakh in the Union Territory.
To address the problem, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is currently supporting one Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts, three Outreach and Drop In Centres, two Community-based Peer Led Intervention programmes, six District De-Addiction Centres and 21 Addiction Treatment Facilities in Jammu and Kashmir.
These facilities are supported under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), which provides financial assistance for prevention, awareness generation, treatment, rehabilitation and capacity-building.
The Centre also operates the 14446 national de-addiction helpline, which has received more than 4.6 lakh calls across the country, including over 11,000 calls from Jammu and Kashmir.
Under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, more than 1.20 crore people in J&K have been sensitised so far, including over 69.14 lakh youth and 51.20 lakh women. The campaign has also enrolled 8,565 Nasha Mukti Mitras in the region.
Launched nationally in 2020 and extended to all districts in 2023, the campaign focuses on awareness and outreach in schools, higher educational institutions and university campuses, besides community-level interventions aimed at prevention and rehabilitation.
